All signs suggest Duke point guard Kyrie Irving will turn pro this year where he’ll eventually be a top three pick, if not the number one overall. However, with an impending lockout on the horizon and several other marquee players reportedly staying in school (Jared Sullinger and Harrison Barnes), the decision isn’t exactly set in stone at the moment. Well, now it might be. The university’s student paper took the liberty to speak for fans of the program nationwide in an open letter that conjures memories to one Elton Brand received after declaring for the league following his sophomore campaign.

Dear Kyrie,

Go pro.

Seriously. Declare for the NBA draft, hire an agent, pick out a nice suit and start practicing to look surprised when your name is one of the first to be called by Commissioner David Stern in June.

I mean, what’s there to lose?

Sure, some of the Cameron Crazies will implore you to consider your legacy as a Blue Devil, to remember the history of the great Duke players before you who went on to successful NBA careers. They’ll probably name drop the likes of Carlos Boozer, Grant Hill and Shane Battier, all guys who won NCAA titles before noteworthy careers in the pros (in spite of playing three seasons or more under one of basketball’s greatest coaches). Don’t follow in the footsteps of William Avery, you’ll be warned; he made the wise decision to leave Duke after his sophomore year, and use the NBA as a stepping stone to an illustrious career in Europe. Don’t let those comparisons get you down, though, even if Avery did get the privilege of watching from the sidelines as his former college teammates celebrated a national championship.

Plus, sticking around and winning a fifth national title for the Blue Devils is just selfish, even if you haven’t ever won one yourself. Think about it: Cameron is already full of national championship banners, and adding one of your own would ruin the symmetry in the rafters. Sure, you’ll give up your chance to be remembered as one of Duke’s all-time greatest basketball players, but I bet if you asked Christian Laettner, he would tell you that fans don’t remember collegiate legacies anyway. Well, at least until he tries to visit Kentucky, where his likeness is still routinely burned in effigy on the anniversary of “The Shot.”

To read the rest, click here. Given the recent publicity about the school and its role of African American players, who actually ok’d this idea? Being fair, Chris Cusak later posted a follow-up letter vehemently claiming it was satirical piece constructed in the interest of the basketball program with no racial undertones. But c’mon pal (yes, “pal”), be real. Just because you cut the oven off doesn’t mean it’s ok to touch it a minute later. With all the beautiful things that undoubtedly come from a Duke education, this is proof common sense isn’t so common in all the Durham co-eds.

I don’t know Cusak personally so labeling the guy as “prejudice” or “Dan Gilbert II” is going overboard. On the contrary, it’s stories in this vein why the masses harbor a venomous resentment towards Duke. Here’s the legendary (and at times equally controversial) predominantly Southern white school who loves their Black basketball players as long they’re running up and down Cameron Indoor Stadium, bringing more banners to hang in their already crowded rafters. That’s not what I’m saying the letter was attempting to convey, but cut your losses before even allowing people to read it to formulate such a thought.

From a pure basketball standpoint, any program who has Kyrie would bend over backwards to keep his services, so that desire is understandable. Writing letters that come off as condescending and insulting in efforts to play some sort of reverse psychology is just plain moronic. Even Duke students who commented on the letter condemned its intentions. The piece would have been better served had it been presented as a “Top 10 Reasons Why Kyrie Should Stay” with number one being, you know, the formation of arguably the most exciting back court in the country between he and Austin Rivers. Just a suggestion in hindsight though.

“Lettergate” (any dispute must end in “-gate” as decided by law) further lets me know the guy who wrote this memorandum will be spending many a nights alone with YouPorn.com. Because let’s just say the kid ultimately leaves Durham and never looks back, Cusak will get about as much love on campus as his open letter did. The NBA and all of its luxuries are provocative enough as is, so if Kyrie feels as if he is being excommunicated from his own campus for possibly making the best decision for him, what is there really left to decide?

If I’m Kyrie I transfer to UNC and destroy Duke for the the 3 years following sitting out the transfer year.

04.06.11 at 1:27 pm

DBlock

drew magary said it best…

“And on and on it goes. Duke folks seem to have a real problem with students who would abandon their precious school. What? Leave Duke? But it’s so perfect here! What with all the manicured quads, and white people named Tyler! What kind of beastly savage would ever voluntarily remove themselves from such an intellectual paradise? If you want to leave Duke early, you clearly must be some cynical money-grabbing street urchin who never really appreciated the sacred halls of our fair institution to begin with. You were not a real KOACH K KID. You were a mercenary. From the street! And Duke does not abide by mercenaries. That is strictly the province of crass programs such as, I dunno, MICHIGAN.”

How do they actually expect him to respond? I mean, being publicly condescending to me has always won me over. Great job.

04.06.11 at 1:38 pm

Black Canseco

I’m a little older than most TSSers—”no, really BC? Who’da thunk it?”—so I’ve got 1st hand accounts from ex-recruits fellow ex streetballers, etc. about the so-called Cameron Crazies and Dukies that go back to the Miami Vice era and before.

And believe you me, when I say “typical Duke” there’s no more apt bow to put on this latest little gift right here.

I just wish some of Duke’s black ex-players and black folk who’ve seen the “special side of Duke” had the balls to say publicly about the Tobacco Road scholars what they’ve said off-the record to me and over the years.

It’s like friggin Fight Club over there. Everyone close enough to know better is afraid to talk about the joint. Still.

04.06.11 at 1:45 pm

Shail

What with all the manicured quads, and white people named Tyler!

====================

*DEAD*

04.06.11 at 1:51 pm

Dunn

Duke should be ashamed and Irving should get out of there immediately. Elton Brand was dead on in that email he sent years ago,
“Thank you very much, for reminding me of the reason why I left Duke. People like you can not and will not ever understand my situation. I’m sure daddy worked very hard to send your rich self to college. While real people struggle.”

The fans just won’t get it

04.06.11 at 1:57 pm

Chubby

Using the pic of him playing against Michigan was very, very smooth… word to Jalen Rose.

04.06.11 at 1:58 pm

TURK

If I’m Kyrie I transfer to UNC and destroy Duke for the the 3 years following sitting out the transfer year.
================================================
^ This

04.06.11 at 2:10 pm

J. Tinsley

Using the pic of him playing against Michigan was very, very smooth… word to Jalen Rose.

===================

I honestly didn’t even think of that until this comment lol.

04.06.11 at 2:45 pm

Bigga Aka KG wouldn't try that shit with Xavier McDaniels

They are treating Kyrie like a damn serf. Yeah Kyrie finish your time as a Serf and get your piece of land and your freedom. This is reason #876 why I hate Dook. Hell all that was missing was the writer to call Kyrie an ungrateful nigger.

And I get not wanting your star player to leave early; but the piece comes off as hey you ungrateful nigger, how dare you leave Dook after we saved you from Savagery and taught you about White Jesus.

BC: I was listening to an interview of Jerry Stackhouse where he tells a story about going on a spur of the moment recruiting trip to Duke. Well when Coach K hears Stackhouse was there, he runs up on him and says; “If you don’t sign with Dook this instance, Dook will not recruit him any further and sign Joey Beard instead. Stack’s response was Joey Beard?? Eff you I will sign with North Carolina and Kick Dooks ass for 3-4 years. After hearing that story I am a Stackhouse fan for life. lol

04.06.11 at 2:55 pm

PandasNeedThatTreble a.k.a. MC ExtraOrdinary

and white people named Tyler!
==========================
We arent all like that.

04.06.11 at 3:36 pm

Mobile Terrail

It’s not a bad idea. As a current North Carolina resident, I despise all things Duke. I don’t even give Duke players any credit until they hit the NBA. Exhibit A: JK Reddick

04.06.11 at 4:13 pm

RickyTCJ

it’s a shitty piece, but how is it racist?

04.06.11 at 4:41 pm

PandasNeedThatTreble a.k.a. MC ExtraOrdinary

it’s a shitty piece, but how is it racist?
——————–
its not that its racist. its that its stupid and in light of how duke is its, well, really stupid. there is not a single redeeming quality to it.

04.06.11 at 4:50 pm

Trill

As a former Duke recruit and baller who went to coack K camp 4 years in a row. Duke gets a lot of flack for bs. It all boils down to they are simply the best. When it comes to education and basketball program. Now if there’s something wrong with recruiting intelligent academic ballers and not street gangbangers who ball. That’s crazy. Jalen Rose got y’all lost. After all I didn’t go to Duke and it was because of the crap talkers….. I should have went to Duke!

04.06.11 at 5:03 pm

DBlock

@Trill

none of what u said makes that write-up any less stupid. or condescending. or unneccesary. sorry homie.

04.06.11 at 5:06 pm

Warfare Chris

I just want to say, that as a proud white person….ive always hated Duke. And i dont even care about UNC at all.

Carry on with relevant comments.

04.06.11 at 5:08 pm

Sir Run Run Paw

Lebron James buys a small stake in Liverpool FC, well as long as he helps to raise our profile Stateside it’s all gravy.

I don’t mind being hated for arrogance & winning, bit this kinda shit just puts a brotha in a bad space. There’s no defending this stupid chattel mentality that these naive and pompous idiots have.

In that fool’s defense, id argue that a lot of naive idiots at other schools share similar sentiment about their players/team. They’re just too lazy to express said sentiments or no one cares about their schools anyway.

I’ve always hated Duke and im sure this type of sarcasm echoes through the halos of many institutions….they (Dukies) and the fanbots want the spotlight to be on a lily white basketball player…ever since Kenny Anderson dismantled Hurley. Magloire giving Wojo the Backlund chicken wing , and trying to pass of the 2 scheizers Scheyer and Singler as stars and countless others Laettner incl. Ive heard the truth about Coach K from a fellow Canuck who starred there and i would want to leave ASAP as well….

04.06.11 at 9:47 pm

S. Cadet

It’d be amazing if Kyrie dropped a reply just like Elton Brand’s. It’s also funny how the letter becomes merely “satirical” once the author got called out on it. Yeah, satire was its aim but it ain’t hard to tell he was talking sideways about him. It’s not the end of the world but you shouldn’t tolerate people talking down to you like that.

Duke makes mostly wack pro ball players anyway so they’re not on my radar like that. You can’t extend much disdain for talent that largely doesn’t pan out. With that said Grant Hill gets a life long fun pass and should’ve went to the Hall if not for his injuries. Luol and Brand are alright by me as well.

04.06.11 at 10:21 pm

nevaRWilliams

*raises bottle* Here’s to Kyrie playing in Cleveland next season…you know, IF there is a season…fucking lock-outs…SMH

04.07.11 at 3:28 am

Donuts

Damn, some of y’all need to loosen up. Pullin’ out ish about race from an article with no implication of that at all. All that does is show insecurities and stereotypes of you’re own. Be eaaaaasyy.. the kid was tryna be funny while expressing that he wanted Kyrie to stay and play for Duke – only problem was he wasn’t funny and some people are as tense as Larry David

04.09.11 at 8:00 pm

martink0261

@Donut. The elephant in the room is money, money is the reason most players go pro, if they were playing for free they would have stayed in college. Money is also the reason most people take a job. With that it mind it reeks of elitism to pillory a player for trying to maximize his earning potential. A guaranteed $10 million contract is on the table, there are a lot of unknown variables involved in playing an extra year of college that could conspire to ruin KI’s chances at this contract. It reeks of elitism and selfishness to criticize someone for taking the money, this stench is further accentuated by requesting that the said player, in lieu of taking the $10 million contract, play for free for your own entertainment. The racism aspect is not direct but rather a derivation of the classicism espoused by the letter. During the era of slavery, there was a class of citizens that had not rights and were owned by the elite. I think as a result of that there are racial undertones involved in any issue of classicist and elitism.
Furthermore, as the NCAA founder said in his biography, the NCAA system has become no different from a slave plantation where the money is earned by the players (especially the stars like KI) while the benefits are enjoyed by the colleges and well-paid coaches. You would have to be obtuse not see how it can be construed as racist to ridicule a player for electing to leave a system where his talents are leached to join one where he is fairly compensated.